Colorado Falls to UCF Despite Strong Effort in the Paint
ORLANDO, Fla. - Colorado women’s basketball dropped a tightly contested battle on the road Sunday, falling 74-68 to UCF in a back-and-forth Big 12 clash at Addition Financial Arena. The Buffaloes, now 12-7 overall and 3-4 in conference play, showed flashes of dominance, especially in the paint and in transition, but couldn’t overcome a second-quarter stumble that gave the Knights the edge they needed.
This one was a tale of momentum swings. Colorado came out strong, taking a five-point lead after the first quarter.
But the second frame was a different story - defensive breakdowns and foul trouble allowed UCF to flip the script and head into halftime up by 10. Head coach JR Payne didn’t sugarcoat it postgame.
“In the first half, I didn't think we defended well,” Payne said. “Part of it was just foul trouble and rotations, but in the second quarter, we were kind of doing our own thing defensively. That’s on me - clearly, I didn’t communicate the game plan well enough.”
Still, the Buffs didn’t go quietly. They stormed out of the locker room with an 8-0 run to open the third quarter, cutting the deficit and setting the tone for a gritty second half. But every time Colorado made a push, UCF had an answer - and in the final minutes, the Knights made the plays that mattered most.
How It Unfolded
Senior forward Jade Masogayo got the Buffs on the board two minutes in with a layup, and junior guard Zyanna Walker followed up with a pair of free throws to give Colorado an early 4-0 lead. The Buffs built on that momentum with a 6-0 run capped by a fast-break layup from junior guard Desiree Wooten. By the end of the first quarter, Colorado was up 19-14.
The second quarter, though, saw the wheels come off defensively. UCF strung together a 12-0 run midway through the frame, turning a tight game into a double-digit lead.
Colorado struggled to contain penetration and gave up too many open looks. Wooten’s step-back three helped stop the bleeding, but the Buffs still went into halftime trailing 39-29.
Whatever was said in the locker room worked. Colorado came out swinging in the third quarter with seven quick points - Masogayo at the line, Walker attacking the rim - and suddenly it was a two-point game. A pair of free throws from Masogayo and Walker tied it at 41-all, and for a few minutes, it was anyone’s game.
The Buffs stayed within striking distance thanks to a buzzer-beating three from junior guard Maeve McErlane to end the third quarter down just one, 51-50.
In the fourth, Colorado briefly regained the lead behind layups from freshman forward Logyn Greer and Wooten. Walker continued to slash through the lane, and Betson found Greer for a key bucket that put CU up 62-59. But as the clock wound down, UCF capitalized on second-chance opportunities and hit timely shots to retake control.
A late three from Betson with 17 seconds left gave the Buffs a glimmer of hope, but UCF closed it out at the free throw line to seal the win.
By the Numbers
Despite the loss, Colorado held the edge in several key categories. The Buffs outscored UCF in the paint (36-22), on the break (18-10), and off the bench (26-21).
They also won the turnover battle with 11 steals and had more blocks (3-2). But the second quarter lapse and UCF’s ability to close in the final minutes proved costly.
Standout Performers
Sophomore forward Tabitha Betson had her best game of the season, putting up a season-high 13 points along with seven rebounds, two steals, and an assist. It was her first double-digit scoring performance of the year, and she brought energy on both ends.
Wooten continued her consistent scoring streak with 15 points - her 13th game in double figures - and added two steals. Walker filled the stat sheet with 13 points, a season-high seven assists, five rebounds, and three steals, showcasing her all-around game.
Masogayo was a steady presence down low with 12 points and seven rebounds, while Greer chipped in nine points and made some timely plays in the second half.
Defensively, fifth-year center JoJo Nworie matched her career-high with two blocks and added a bucket. McErlane contributed three assists and a crucial three-pointer to keep Colorado in it late.
For UCF, Summer Yancy led all scorers with 25 points and grabbed six boards, proving to be a difference-maker throughout the game.
What’s Next
The Buffs now get a brief breather before returning home to face Oklahoma State on Sunday, Jan. 25, at the CU Events Center. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. MT, and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
With the Big 12 schedule heating up, Colorado will be looking to regroup, build on the positives from this game, and tighten up defensively as they aim to climb the conference standings.